. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/USA/1070 
11 May 2005 
 (05-1924) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved: 
2. Agency responsible:   U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Shell eggs HS 0407 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  Any 
U.S. trade partners.  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Food Labeling:  Safe 
Handling Statements:  Labeling of Shell Eggs;  Proposed Rule (available in English, 
8 pages). 
6. Description of content:  The U.S. FDA is proposing to amend 21 CFR 101.17(h) to include 
the option of placing the safe handling statement on the inside lid of egg cartons.  In addition, to ensure that all personnel involved in the distribution chain of shell eggs are 
aware of the refrigeration requirements in 21 CFR 115.50 FDA is proposing to amend 21 
CFR 101.17(h)(2) to require that, when the saf e handling statement appears on the inside 
lid of the egg carton, the words, "Keep Refri gerated," appear on the PDP or information 
panel.  Currently, the regulation in 101.17( h) requires the egg industry to place a safe 
handling statement on cartons of shell eggs that have not been treated to destroy 
Salmonella microorganisms.  According to th is regulation, the safe handling statement 
must appear either on the principal display pa nel (PDP) or on the information panel of egg 
cartons.   
7. Objective and rationale:  [ X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection, 
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ]  protect territory from other damage from pests 
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:  
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ X ] None  
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:    
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  The proposed rule 
was published in the 5 May 2005 Federal Re gister (70 FR 23813);  in English.  
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/05-8907.htm  
10. Proposed date of adoption:   To be determined when final rule publishes.    G/SPS/N/USA/1070 
Page 2  
 
 11. Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined when final rule publishes. 
12. Final date for comments:  19 July 2005 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or  address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   Submit written comments on the document to the Dockets 
Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Dr ug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 
1061, Rockville, MD 20852, U.S.A.  It is possible to submit electronic comments to:   
http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments .  Submit comments by indicating DOCKET 
Number 2004N-0382 and Title of document:  Food Labeling:  Safe Handling Statements:  
Labeling of Shell Eggs; Proposed Rule. 
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notificati on authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, 
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  U.S. Enquiry 
Point, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 1027, Washington, DC  20250.  Tel:  (202) 720-0677, E-mail:  fstsd@usda.gov
.  Complete text can be also be found on the Internet  
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/05-8907.htm  by indicating DOCKET 
Number 2004N-0382.  For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/default.htm
 and insert the 
Docket No. 2004N-0382 into the "Search'' box and follow the prompts.